Alaskan Ivory Carvings

Ivory New England whalers introduced scrimshaw to the northern Eskimos in the early 19th century. Today the art form is very popular among Alaskan artists, both native and non-native, who use walrus ivory, mammoth ivory, and antler as a medium. The ivory is etched into using a sharp pin like tool and then covered in ink, which seeps into the scratches.

Ivory Polar Bear scene

Ivory Polar bear and Hunter scene

This scene captures the struggle and danger of life in the Alaskan arctic. It leaves to question who is the hunter, and who is the hunted. The cormorants look on the scene seemingly un-interested in the life and death struggle below.